Tamiflu Overview

Viruses that normally occur in birds cause bird flu, and there are many different strains. Some of these viruses can pass from birds to other animals, and most of them are mild. However, there have been several human outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in Asia and Europe over the last decade. Scientists are concerned that this strain will eventually mutate into a form that can pass directly from human to human. When the H5N1 strain re-emerged in Asia during the winter of 2003, it set off fears of a worldwide pandemic. (See How Bird Flu Works for more information.)

The flu vaccine that works against the A and B "regular flu" strains is not effective against bird flu. Although scientists are hard at work developing an avian flu vaccine, currently antiviral drugs are the only weapon against the disease.

Up Next

Laboratory studies show that Tamiflu is effective against several strains of bird flu, including H5N1. It works the same way that it works against the "regular flu." However, it only lessens the severity of the illness -- it can't stop the virus entirely. The World Health Organization recommends Tamiflu as the drug of choice should an avian flu pandemic occur. Doctors in Asia are already using Tamiflu to treat patients who have become ill with the H5N1 strain.

Fake Flu Drug

The overwhelming demand for Tamiflu has led to a booming counterfeit business. Customs agents have seized hundreds of packages of fake Tamiflu trying to make its way into the United States from as far away as Asia and the island of Mauritius. The fake pills have contained little, if any, of the drug's active ingredient.

Health experts fear that people will order Tamiflu from suspect sources and mistakenly think that it will protect them during a pandemic. The only way to make sure that you're getting the real thing is to get a prescription from your doctor and fill it at a reputable pharmacy.